Hopple



May 15, 1923.

J. B. KOPF HOBPLE Filed July 12, 1922 4 TTORNEYJ for a pacer.

Patented May 15, I923.

UNITED JOSEPH B. Korr, or nocKwL-Ln cnnrnn, new YORK.

HOPPLE.

Application filed July 12, 1922; Serial No. 574,513.

To all whom it mag concern: 7

Be it known that I, Josnrrr B. Korr, a citizen of the United States of Alnerica, residing at Rockville Center, New York, have invented a new and useful Improved Hopple, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to so-called hopples for pacing horses and more particularly consists in a new and improved safety buckle which is provided therewith to strengthen certain parts of said harness where heavy strain and breakage is sometimes likely to occur. Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the general appearance of a hopple harness suitable Figure 2 is the relatively enlarged perspective view of my improved tongueless buckle or clamp.

Figure 3 is an edge view of a portion of the harness showing conventionally the buckle as it would appear in use, the buckle itself being shown in section.

11 and 22 illustrate respectively two pair of leg loops located at opposite sides of the harness. The loops of each pair are connected respectively by adjustable connecting straps, while said loops and connecting straps are properly supported by hanging straps 3-3 which go over the back of the horse and are provided with suitable buckles for adjustment.

My invention more particularly relates to the strengthening of the adjustable connecting straps, where, in the event the pacer should break into a trot or run, very heavy strain occurs and breakage of the straps is not infrequent at the point or points where the belt is perforated for the tongue of an adjusting buckle. In the ordinary construction each adjustable connecting strap comprises an inside part 4 which is secured, for example, to the rear leg loop. The free end is then passed through a socalled D-loop 5 and thence leads back to an ordinary adjusting buckle 6, by which the overall length of the connecting strap may be lengthened or shortened at will. The outer part of the said strap is indicated as 4.

Inasmuch as with an ordinary tongue buckle it is necessary to puncture the strap to provide for the passage ofthe tongue, it obviously weakens the strap at that point or points to a corresponding extent. Accordingly, I provide a unique form of clamping.

buckle, which operates to take any excessive strain and thereby avoid this said danger. I have shown this clamping buckle in perspective in Figure 2, and it will be seen to comprise a horizontally, elongated or rectangular loop 7 having end bars 7-7. 8

represents a rearwardly extending U-shaped member, having an end bar 8*. The ends of the member 8 are pivoted on the ends of a transverse pin 9,, secured intermediate the length of the loop 7. The bar 8 of the U-s-haped member is secured to part 4 of the adjustable connecting strap in any suitable manner, while the outside part 4? j of said strap is passed through the loop 7 from the rear and over theb-ar 9 as shown in Figure 3. In the event strain on the part 4 should become excessive it would tend to pull the part 4 to the right relatively to I part 43 as shown in Figure 3. This movement, as will. be seen by reference to the said Figure 3, will tend to swing the U-shaped member 8 on its pivotso as to crowd the end bar 8 of the U-shaped member toward the adjacent end bar 7 of the buckle loop 7, thus clamping or pinching the two parts 4-43 of the connecting strap againsteach other so as to prevent slippage of the part 4? in a direction that would tend to cause breakage at thetongue perforations. I

It will be observed that the crossbar 8 is offset from the bar 9 substantially to the same extent that the end bar 7 is ofl'set therefrom, thus these two bars will mutually co-act in tightly pinching together, or clamping, the two parts of the connecting strap as aforesaid.

What I claim is 1. In a hopple harness, two leg loops witha two-part adjustable strap connection between the front and rear leg loops and in cluding at least one buckle topermit said strap connection to be lengthened or shortened, and clamping means located intermediate the length of said two-part strap connection for pinching said two parts of said connection tightly together in the event of heavy strain thereon, to relieve the strain on that part of said strap connected to said buckle.

2. In a hopple harness. two leg loops with a two-part adjustable strap connection between the front and rear leg loops and including at least one buckle to permit said strap connection to be lengthened or shortened, and clamping means located intermediate the length of said two-part strap connection for pinching said two parts of said connection tightly together in the event of heavy strain thereon, to relieve the strain 10 part of said strap 1s passed, and a swinging U-shaped meinloer pivoted to said loop; the

other part of said strap being secured to said member, whereby excessive straintend- *ing to slide one part/of said strap on the 7. other will cause said U-shaped member to v swing toward the loop, to press the two parts of said strap connection into tight surface engagement for the purpose descrlbed.

JOSEPH B. KOPF. 

